Rolling mill stand

ABSTRACT

A rolling mill stand in which the mill housing is designed to contain various hydraulic cylinders which act on the work roll chocks and a transducer means which is positioned to act between ears on the work roll chocks to sense the condition of the strip. The mill housing is adapted to retain the cylinders and the transducer means within the housing during a work roll changing operation.

mted States Patent 1 91 1111 3,864,955

Eibe Feb. 11, 1975 ROLLING MILL STAND 3,555,872 1/1971 Bournez et al 72/245 3.733.875 5 1973 St [75] Inventor: Werner W. Elbe, P1ttsburgh, Pa. elmer 72/2] X [73] Assignee: Blaw-Knox Foundry & Mill Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr Machinery, llw, Pittsburgh. fl- Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Smith, Harding, Eariey & 122 Filed: Dec. 4, 1973 Follme [2]] App]. No.: 421,583 [5.7] ABSTRACT A rolling mill stand in which the mill housing is deg g gi signed to contain various hydraulic cylinders which 58 72/238 245 237 act on the work roll chocks and a transducer means I 1 0 which is positioned to act between ears on the work 56 R f d roll chocks to sense the condition of the strip. The mill 1 eerences housing is adapted to retain the cylinders and the UNITED STATES PATENTS transducer means within the housing during a work 3,398,564 8/1968 Barten 72/245 X roll changing operation. 3,495,430 2/1970 010101 72/237 3,538,733 11 1970 Diolot 72/245 14 Clalms, 5 Drawing Figures SHEET 3 OF 5 PAH-1mm FEB u ms FIG. 3.

ROLLING MILL STAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to rolling mills and more particularly to a rolling mill stand design.

In view of the increased importance in achieving a roll changing operation as quickly and economically as possible, it would be desirable to provide a rolling mill stand design which enhances this objective. However, present day rolling mill stands have not fully achieved this since they have not been designed to accommodate all the various hydraulic cylinders and other essential elements of the rolling mill. Accordingly, some of these elements must be mounted in the work roll chocks and back-up roll chocks and are removed from the rolling mill during each roll change. This requires that each work roll chock and back-up roll chock must be equipped with these elements.

Also, in rolling mills there has always been the problem of maintaining uniform gauge of the strip produced. This is conventionally achieved by a control means which senses the condition of the strip in some way and then controls the application of forces to the rolls to adjust for the non-uniform condition that is being sensed. The prior art has not provided an entirely satisfactory means for sensing the condition of the strip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the general object of this invention to provide a rolling mill stand which permits the location of all of the various essential hydraulic cylinder means in the housing of the mill stand so that such means are not removed from the rolling mill during a roll change and it is not necessary to equip each work roll chock or backup roll chock arrangement therewith. Briefly stated, this object of the invention is achieved by providing a mill housing which defines a window and upper and lower work roll chocks for rotatably supporting the upper and lower work rolls and adapted to be removably mounted from the housing window. The mill housing has housing portions on the vertical sides of the windows projecting inwardly from each vertical side in the region of the work roll chocks and defining recesses. The upper and lower work roll chocks have outwardly projecting ears in opposed relation, said ear portions being received within the recesses defined by the inwardly projecting housing portions. The housing portions have mounted therein the crown-out hydraulic cylinder means for one of said work rolls whereby such cylinder means are contained within the housing and are not removed therewith during a roll change.

In addition the housing means is designed to accommodate all the crown-out and crown-in hydraulic cylinder means necessary for the operation of the rolling mill. As used in the specification, the term crownin" means the use of hydraulic cylinder means (known in the art as hydraulic jacks) to force the work roll chocks apart, and the term Crown-out" means the use of hydraulic cylinder means to force the work roll chocks towards each other. In the prior art, the crownout cylinder means have always been mounted in the top and bottom back-up roll chocks. This made it necessary to provide supply hoses which have to be connected and disconnected for every backup roll change.

Furthermore, it requires the mounting of the cylinders in each spare chock in order to have roll changes performed in a reasonably fast time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rolling mill stand which has the transducer for sensing the condition of the strip mounted independently therein to act between the ears of the work roll chocks to achieve an accurate sensing of the condition of the strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the housing window configuration of a rolling mill stand in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the mill stand shown in FIG. 1 in the region of the work roll chocks;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the construction and arrangement of the transducer means; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating an alternate form of transducer means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to FIG. 1 there is shown a mill housing 10 providing a window 12 adapted to contain an upper work roll chock 14 and a lower work roll chock 16 which conventionally support on roller bearings an upper work roll 18 and a lower work roll 20, respectively, which define a pass line 21. The window 12 is also adapted to contain the upper back-up roll chock 22 and a lower back-up roll chock 24 which conventionally support on roller or oil film bearings an upper back-up roll 26 and a lower back-up roll 28, respectively. As is conventional in the art there is provided a screwdown means 27 at the upper end of the mill engaging the upper back-up roll chock 22 and a hydraulic force applicator 29 at the lower end of the mill engaging the lower back-up roll 24.

The mill housing 10 is provided at the drive side of the rolling mill. There will, of course, be provided a similar mill housing on the operators side of the rolling mill, such housing being provided with similar chocks and otherelements as will be described hereafter with respect to the mill housing 10.

In the window region adjacent the work roll chocks l4 and 16 there are provided a pair of housing portions 30 which extend along the vertical sides of the window 12 and are secured to the main part of the housing 10 by means of bolts 32 as is best shown in FIG. 3. The housing portions 30 are contained within spaced opposed portions 34 of the main housing defining a vertically extending recess into which an outer portion 31 of each housing portion 30 is slidably received as is best shown in FIG. 3. Each housing portion 30 has projecting portions 35, 37 and 39 which extend inwardly beyond the spaced portions 34, such portions 35 and 37 defining vertical walls adapted to slidably engage the liners of the work roll chocks 14 and 16 as is best shown in FIG. 1. The projecting portions 35, 37 and 39 also define therebetween a pair of vertically spaced recesses 36 and 38 as is shown in FIG. 2. The work roll chocks l4 and 16 are provided with outwardly extending ears 40 and 42 which extend into the recesses 36 and 38, respectively.

Below the recesses 38 in each of the projecting portions 39 of housing portions 30 there is provided a hydraulic cylinder means 50 which is adapted to apply an upward force to an associated car 42 of the lower work roll chock 16. This cylinder means 50 serves as crownout cylinders for the lower work roll 20, such cylinder applying a force to the work rolls to reduce the crown thereof.

Between the recesses 36 and 38 in each of the projecting portions 37 of housing portions 30 there is provided a hydraulic cylinder means 52 adapted to apply a downward force to the ears 42 of the lower work roll chock l6 and an upward force to the ears 40 of the upper work roll chock 14. As is shown in FIG. 3 the cylinder means 52 comprises on each side a pair of cylinders 53. The cylinder means 52 serve as a balancing cylinder for the upper and lower work rolls as well as a crown-in cylinder therefor. In other words, the cylinders 53 apply a force to the upper and lower work rolls tending to increase the crown thereof.

Above the recesses 38 in the projecting portions 35 there is provided a hydraulic cylinder means 56 which is adapted to apply a downward force to the ears 40 of the upper work roll chocks. This cylinder means 56 serves as a crown-out cylinder for the upper work rolls. The cylinder means 56 also serves to lift a rail 57 for the purpose of work roll changing. This roll changing feature is not part of this invention and will, therefore, not be further described.

It will be apparent that all the various cylinder means 50 56 are constructed and arranged to be contained within the housing portions 30 and are movable into and out of contact with the associated ears 40 and 42 of the work roll chocks l4 and 16. Accordingly, these hydraulic cylinder means will remain in the housing portions 30 during a work roll changing operation. The parts are shown in FIG. 2 in the roll changing position and it will be apparent that the cylinders 50 56 are out of contact with the work roll chocks thereby permitting a roll changing operation.

At the top of the housing portions 30 there is also provided hydraulic cylinder means 58 which are adapted to apply an upward force to the upper back-up roll chock 22 to thereby serve as balancing cylinders.

A transducer means 70 is mounted in each of the housing portions 30 in projecting portion 37 between the recesses 36 and 38. Such transducer means 70 comprises a suitable transducer 72 enclosed in spring biased, extendible container 74 which is movably secured in the housing portion 37. The container 74 has an upwardly projecting pin 76 adapted to engage a recessed insert 77 mounted in the lower side of the ear 40 of the upper work roll chock l4 and a downwardly projecting pin 78 adapted to engage a recessed insert 77 in the upper side of the ear 42 of the lower work roll chock 16. As is shown in FIG. 3, the transducer means 70 is centered between the cylinders 53 with the chock contacting pins 76 and 78 in line with the center line 79 of the work roll bearings. The centers of cylinders 53 are spaced equally from the center line 79 of the work roll bearings.

The transducer 72 is of a suitable type which transmits an electrical signal proportional to the amount of displacement thereof. Accordingly, as the work roll chocks 14 and 16 are moved toward or away from one another in accordance with the position of the work rolls l8 and 20, the cars 40 and 42 will transmit such movement to the pins 76 and 78 and the transducer 72 will transmit an electrical signal corresponding to such movement. There are provided two transducers 72 mounted in each of the housing window projecting portions 37 to operate between both the left and right ears 40 and 42 of the work roll chocks l4 and 16. The output signals of these transducers are summed and averaged in suitable electronic circuitry in order to compensate for an eventual chock tilting within the necessary liner clearances. Also, there is provided a similar transducer arrangement in the drive side housing of the mill stand (not shown) for independent control of each mill housing. In accordance with conventional procedure, the electrical signal is transmitted to a computer which controls the application of the hydraulic force to the back-up roll chock 24 by way of the hydraulic force applicator 29. It will be apparent that various types of control means known in the art can be provided to utilize the transducer output to achieve gauge control.

The independent mounting of the transducer 72 in a spring-loaded container to act directly between the upper and lower work roll chocks provides a very simple and vibration free mounting. Moreover, since the chock contacting pins 76 and 78 of the transducer 72 are centered on the center line of the work roll bearings between the cylinders 53, a most accurate reading of the position of the work roll chocks is achieved.

It will be apparent that the transducer means is adapted to be engaged and disengaged with the work roll chocks 14 and 16 automatically during a work roll changing operation. Accordingly, when the work rolls are to be changed, the transducer means 70 remain in the housing portion 30. The roll changing position of the parts is shown in FIG. 4 wherein it is seen that the separating movement ofthe work roll chocks 14 and 16 will result in automatic disengagement thereof from the pins 76 and 78 of the transducer means 70. Thus, as the work rolls are moved to the roll changing position, the transducer means 70 will automatically be disengaged therefrom. Also when the work roll chocks are returned from this roll changing position to the rolling position, the transducer means 70 will automatically become reengaged with the pins 76 and 78 moving into engagement with the associated inserts 77 and 79.

In FIG. 5 there is shown an alternate form of transducer means 70' which is similar to the transducer means 70 described above wherefore corresponding parts have been given like reference numerals with primes added. The transducer means 70 comprises a suitable transducer 72 enclosed in an extendible container 74 which is suitably secured in the housing portion 37. The container 74' includes an outer cylindrical shell 73 closed at its upper end and having an upwardly projecting pin 76' mounted on the upper end thereof to engage a recessed insert 77' mounted in the lower side of the ear 40 of the upper work roll chock 14. The container 74 includes an inner shell the lower end of which is closed and provided with a downwardly projecting pin 78 adapted to engage a recessed insert 79 in the upper side of the ear 42 of the lower work roll chock 16. The two shells 73' and 75' are mounted for sliding relative movement and define an internal cylindrical chamber 71. Mounted in the chamber 71' at a location within the shell 75' is the transducer 72.

Means are provided for biasing the shells 73 and 75' toward a separated or extended condition. To this end, there is provided a hose 80 the downstream end of which is mounted in the side of shell 75' near its lower end. The other end of the hose 80' is connected to a supply of gas under pressure 81'. Accordingly, air is delivered into the lower end of the chamber 71 through the hose 80' as shown by the arrow A. This gas will serve to fill the chamber 71 and tend to urge the shells 73 and 75 apart or toward an extended condition. The sliding contact between the shells 73' and 75' is such that the gas is allowed to escape from the chamber 71 between these contact surfaces to the exterior of the container 74 as is shown by the arrows in FIG. 5.

By this arrangement, the extendible container 74' is constantly biased toward its extended condition. Also since gas is contained in chamber 71 and continuously flows therefrom, contaminants are kept from entering into the chamber 71 where the transducer 72 is located whereby there will be no interference with the operation of the transducer unit.

it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. In a rolling mill having upper and lower work rolls defining a pass line, a mill housing defining a window, upper and lower work roll chocks for rotatably supporting the upper and lower work rolls and adapted to be removably mounted in said housing window, said mill housing having housing portions on the vertical sides of said windows projecting inwardly from each vertical side in the region of said work roll chocks, said upper work roll chocks having outwardly projecting ears, said lower work roll chocks having outwardly projecting ears in opposed relation with said ears of said upper work roll chocks, said inwardly projecting housing portions being constructed to define recesses adapted to receive said ear portions, crown-out hydraulic cylinder means for one of said work rolls mounted in said housing portions for applying'a force to one of said work roll chocks to produce a crown-out load thereon, said housing portion comprising a first portion located above said ears of said upper work roll chocks, a second portion located below said ears of said lower work roll chocks and a third portion located between said ears of said upper and lower work roll chocks, and transducer means independently mounted in said third housing portion and extending between opposed ears on said upper and lower work roll chocks.

2. A rolling mill according to claim 1 wherein said first-mentioned crown-out hydraulic cylinder means is located in said first housing portion for applying a force to said upper work roll chocks to produce a crown-out load thereon and including a second crown-out hydraulic cylinder means located in said second housing portion for applying a force to said lower work roll chocks to produce a crown-out load thereon.

3. A rolling mill according to claim 2 including a crown-in hydraulic cylinder means located in said third housing portion for applying forces to said ears of said upper and lower work roll chocks to produce a crownin load thereon.

4. A rolling mill according to claim 1 wherein said transducer means has pins projecting upwardly and downwardly therefrom said ear portions on said chocks being adapted to receive said projecting pins.

5. A rolling mill according to claim 4 wherein said pins of said transducer means are constructed and arranged so that a separating movement of said work roll chocks will automatically disengage said pins from said ear portions.

6. A rolling mill according to claim 5 wherein said transducer means comprises a transducer unit mounted within a spring biased container secured in said third housing portion.

7. A rolling mill according to claim 1 wherein said transducer means is located to contact said upper and lower work roll chocks at locations aligned with the center line of the rotatable support of said work rolls in said work roll chocks.

8. A rolling mill according to claim 7 including crown-in hydraulic cylinder means located in said inwardly projecting housing portion and including a pair of cylinders spaced equally from said transducer means, said transducer means being centered between said pair of cylinders.

9. A rolling mill according to claim 1 wherein said transducer means comprises an extendible container including a pair of casing members mounted for sliding relative movement and defining a chamber therein, a transducer unit mounted within said chamber, and means for biasing said casing members toward the extended condition thereof.

10. A rolling mill according to claim 9 wherein said biasing means comprises means for supplying gas under pressure into the interior of said chamber.

11. A rolling mill according to claim 10 wherein said slidable mounting between said casing members is adapted to permit the flow of gas from said chamber to the exterior of said container.

12. In a rolling mill having upper and lower work rolls defining a pass line, a mill housing defining a window, upper and lower work roll chocks for providing rotatable bearing support for the upper and lower work rolls and adapted to be removably mounted in said housing window, said mill housing having housing portions on the vertical sides of said windows projecting inwardly from each vertical side in the region of said work roll chocks, said upper work roll chocks having outwardly projecting ears, said lower work roll chocks having outwardly projecting ears in opposed relation with said ears of said upper work roll chocks, said inwardly pro jecting housing portions being constructed to define recesses adapted to receive said ear portions and including a portion located between said opposed ear portions, and transducer means mounted in said housing portions located between said opposed ear portions, said transducer means being mounted for independent movement and arranged to contact said upper and lower work roll chocks at opposed locations aligned with the center line of the bearing support of said work rolls in said upper and lower work roll chocks.

13. A rolling mill according to claim 12 wherein said transducer means comprises an extendible container including a pair of easing members mounted for sliding relative movement and defining a chamber therein, a transducer unit mounted within said chamber, and means for biasing said casing members toward the extended condition thereof.

14. A rolling mill according to claim 13 wherein said biasing means comprises means for supplying gas under pressure into the interior of said chamber. 

1. In a rolling mill having upper and lower work rolls defining a pass line, a mill housing defining a window, upper and lower work roll chocks for rotatably supporting the upper and lower work rolls and adapted to be removably mounted in said housing wiNdow, said mill housing having housing portions on the vertical sides of said windows projecting inwardly from each vertical side in the region of said work roll chocks, said upper work roll chocks having outwardly projecting ears, said lower work roll chocks having outwardly projecting ears in opposed relation with said ears of said upper work roll chocks, said inwardly projecting housing portions being constructed to define recesses adapted to receive said ear portions, crown-out hydraulic cylinder means for one of said work rolls mounted in said housing portions for applying a force to one of said work roll chocks to produce a crown-out load thereon, said housing portion comprising a first portion located above said ears of said upper work roll chocks, a second portion located below said ears of said lower work roll chocks and a third portion located between said ears of said upper and lower work roll chocks, and transducer means independently mounted in said third housing portion and extending between opposed ears on said upper and lower work roll chocks.
 2. A rolling mill according to claim 1 wherein said first-mentioned crown-out hydraulic cylinder means is located in said first housing portion for applying a force to said upper work roll chocks to produce a crown-out load thereon and including a second crown-out hydraulic cylinder means located in said second housing portion for applying a force to said lower work roll chocks to produce a crown-out load thereon.
 3. A rolling mill according to claim 2 including a crown-in hydraulic cylinder means located in said third housing portion for applying forces to said ears of said upper and lower work roll chocks to produce a crown-in load thereon.
 4. A rolling mill according to claim 1 wherein said transducer means has pins projecting upwardly and downwardly therefrom said ear portions on said chocks being adapted to receive said projecting pins.
 5. A rolling mill according to claim 4 wherein said pins of said transducer means are constructed and arranged so that a separating movement of said work roll chocks will automatically disengage said pins from said ear portions.
 6. A rolling mill according to claim 5 wherein said transducer means comprises a transducer unit mounted within a spring biased container secured in said third housing portion.
 7. A rolling mill according to claim 1 wherein said transducer means is located to contact said upper and lower work roll chocks at locations aligned with the center line of the rotatable support of said work rolls in said work roll chocks.
 8. A rolling mill according to claim 7 including crown-in hydraulic cylinder means located in said inwardly projecting housing portion and including a pair of cylinders spaced equally from said transducer means, said transducer means being centered between said pair of cylinders.
 9. A rolling mill according to claim 1 wherein said transducer means comprises an extendible container including a pair of casing members mounted for sliding relative movement and defining a chamber therein, a transducer unit mounted within said chamber, and means for biasing said casing members toward the extended condition thereof.
 10. A rolling mill according to claim 9 wherein said biasing means comprises means for supplying gas under pressure into the interior of said chamber.
 11. A rolling mill according to claim 10 wherein said slidable mounting between said casing members is adapted to permit the flow of gas from said chamber to the exterior of said container.
 12. In a rolling mill having upper and lower work rolls defining a pass line, a mill housing defining a window, upper and lower work roll chocks for providing rotatable bearing support for the upper and lower work rolls and adapted to be removably mounted in said housing window, said mill housing having housing portions on the vertical sides of said windows projecting inwardly from each vertical side in the region of said work roll chocks, said upper work roll chocks haVing outwardly projecting ears, said lower work roll chocks having outwardly projecting ears in opposed relation with said ears of said upper work roll chocks, said inwardly projecting housing portions being constructed to define recesses adapted to receive said ear portions and including a portion located between said opposed ear portions, and transducer means mounted in said housing portions located between said opposed ear portions, said transducer means being mounted for independent movement and arranged to contact said upper and lower work roll chocks at opposed locations aligned with the center line of the bearing support of said work rolls in said upper and lower work roll chocks.
 13. A rolling mill according to claim 12 wherein said transducer means comprises an extendible container including a pair of casing members mounted for sliding relative movement and defining a chamber therein, a transducer unit mounted within said chamber, and means for biasing said casing members toward the extended condition thereof.
 14. A rolling mill according to claim 13 wherein said biasing means comprises means for supplying gas under pressure into the interior of said chamber. 